honeybee

noun

hon·​ey·​bee ˈhə-nē-ˌbē 

variants or honey bee

: a honey-producing bee (genus Apis of the family Apidae)

especially : a European bee (A. mellifera) introduced worldwide and kept in hives for the honey it produces

Illustration of honeybee

• worker
• queen
• drone

Examples of honeybee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The next step is to expand beyond honeybees to other invertebrates, starting with shrimp, where early tests are showing positive results. —Amy Feldman, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

Only one type of bee is allowed to be cultivated in Slovenia, the indigenous Carniolan honeybee, and beekeepers pride themselves on the flavor of the final product, which reflects the environment the bees inhabit. —Ellen Ruppel Shell, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024

There are similar concerns over populations of tree-munching ash borers and the invasive Asian giant hornet, a potential threat to honeybee populations across Europe and North America. —Jules Howard, TIME, 4 Sep. 2024

Kleiser sees the vaccine as a first step toward keeping the roughly 3 million honeybee colonies in the U.S. healthy. —Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

honeybee

noun

hon·​ey·​bee -ˌbē 

: a bee that produces honey and lives in colonies

especially : a European bee widely kept in hives for the honey it produces

Medical Definition

honeybee

noun

hon·​ey·​bee ˈhən-ē-ˌbē 

: a honey-producing bee (Apis and related genera)

especially : a European bee (A. mellifera) introduced worldwide and kept in hives for the honey it produces